No. 5 Tampa one-hits Georgia College

Spartans record first one-hitter since 1992 to sweep Bobcats

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- Playing at No. 30 Georgia College, No. 5 Tampa (6-0) used its pitching to complete the sweep of the Bobcats. The Spartans won by a 1-0 score as Ben O'Shea and Eric Luksis threw a combined one-hitter.

In a game where weather conditions included wind gusts around 20 MPH and temps in the low 40’s, O’Shea and Luksis threw just the fourth one-hitter in program history.

The effort was the first since UT Hall of Famer Gary Graham on April 5, 1992, against Florida Southern. Steve Mumaw threw the first one-hitter as current pitching coach Sam Militello also had one.

The game was scoreless until the top of the eighth inning when Damon Elder reached on an error by the Bobcat shortstop. After Andrew Jones was hit by a pitch, Elder moved to second and scored the game’s lone run on a single to center field by first baseman Jake Schrader.

Tampa’s no-hitter stood for 8.1 innings, as the lone Georgia College hit came with one out in the ninth as Travis Echols singled through the left side. UT would finish the gem on the next batter as a double play was recorded.

O’Shea started for head coach Joe Urso, throwing 6.0 innings of no-hit baseball. The junior lefty struck out four Bobcats during his outing.

Luksis would then enter for the Spartans, pitching the final 3.0 innings to register his first victory at UT and move to 1-0 on the season. The junior lefty also notched two strikeouts.

Schrader finished with a pair of hits on the afternoon, including the lone RBI of the game. Connor Obrochta added two hits as Anthony Caronia and Shane Rowland each had a hit for the Spartans.

The Spartans will return to action on Friday in a four-game set at Stillman in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday’s game will start at 3 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m., Saturday doubleheader and single game at 11 a.m., on Sunday. The matchup will count as NCAA South Region play for both teams.